Assessment of psychiatric morbidity in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Background:Menopause is one of the crucial phases of women’s life. Although the fact has been ignored or hidden for a long time, it is now clearly established that this is a difficult time of life due to high frequency of physical and psychological disorders which affect majority of the women. The present study was conducted to assess psychiatric morbidity in postmenopausal women attending gynaecological outdoor patient department.Materials & Methods: 50 consecutive postmenopausal women attending Gynae OPD in New Medical College hospital, Kota constituted the sample of study whereas 50 randomly postmenopausal women who were not attending Gynae OPD, who had not undergone surgical menopause (Post Hysterectomy). preferably relatives of postmenopausal patients, constituted the control group.Results: Maximum patients 32 (64%) in study group and 33 (66%) were in age group 40-45 years. Past history was seen in 8 in study group and 2 in control group. GHQ score >4 was seen in 26 in study group and 40 in control group. 7 in study and 4 in control group had Mixed anxietydepressivedisorder. Severe depression was seen in 3 in study and 0 in control group. Conclusion: 42% of the patients from the study group received psychiatric diagnosis according to the ICD-10. Mild depression was present in 2% patients, moderate depression in 8% and severe depression in 6% patients.